Entry Pathways FAQs

Entry Pathways - FAQs

When is the new course available?

Now - units can be submitted for credit from June series 2012 and January and June thereafter.

Some Entry Level Certificate (ELC) qualifications have been extended to help with the transition to Entry Pathways. A list of these can be found on the Entry Level web page.

What is different with the new Entry Pathways Qualifications?

One major development is the removal of timetabled examination and set tasks. WJEC will no longer set assessments; they will instead supply sample material to give guidance to centres. This offers teachers the opportunity to be more creative by establishing a variety of assessments for each unit that will enable their learners to achieve the learning outcomes.

What are the main advantages?

There is a wide choice of units within each qualification and this allows flexibility:

To decide which units and level best suit learners.

To decide the best time to enter learners for certification (in January and June moderation series).

To enable learners to work at their own pace (credit can be banked).

Does Entry Pathways have performance points?

EP Qualifications no longer carry performance points in England. For information relating to performance points in Wales please see https://www.qiw.wales/.

WJEC will continue to provide Entry Pathways qualification at all levels as centres have shown that the demand is there for a rigorous and pertinent assessment for the range of learners following these courses.

How is the course structured?

There are currently thirteen areas covered by the qualifications, and each qualification is broken down into units at different levels and credit values.

The qualification title indicates:

the level of the qualification (the complexity and depth of learning)

the content of the qualification (the volume of learning)

the content of the qualification

Under each qualification there are many ways to choose which units to study:

Units can be taken from just one area e.g. all History units.

Units can be mixed from any other subject areas within that qualification e.g. Humanities (any Geography, Religious Studies or French units etc).

A 'generic' unit from another Entry Pathways qualification can be used, i.e. 'Working as part of a Group' is a Personal and Social Development generic unit that can be used in many Entry Pathways qualifications like Humanities.

Some units can be included in two qualifications where appropriate, e.g. Humanities 'Renewable Energy' can be used in Science Today.

What is a credit?

All units have a credit value - this suggests/reflects the volume of work required and approximate teaching time recommended to deliver the unit and its assessment. 1 credit is equal to 10 guided learning hours.

Candidates can build up credit to achieve one of the following:

Award (8 - 12 credits)

Certificate (13 - 36 credits)

Diploma (37+ credits)

What levels are covered?

Entry 1 units can be found in Personal Progress only.

The majority of qualifications cover Entry 2 & 3 with a few Level 1 units to give learners an opportunity to do units at that level or above.

A Level 1 qualification can be gained in Entry Pathways IT Users and Pathways Applied Science or Science for Work (Entry Pathways Science Today Entry 3 units can be used for credit towards the Level 1 Pathways Applied Science).

Can a Level 1 qualification only be achieved in ICT and Science?

Yes - from 2013 only ICT and Science offer a Level 1 qualification.

There is the opportunity to do Level 1 units in some of the other qualifications, however, you can only currently cash-in at Entry 3.

What are the rules of combination of units?

Within each area of certification indicated all units are 'optional' and the only requirement is to complete units of sufficient value to achieve the Award (8 or more credits), Certificate (13 or more credits) or Diploma (37 or more credits) qualification.

When should centres enter?

January Series

21 October

Entry deadline

11 November

Entry amendment deadline

13 December

Sample submission deadline

June Series

21 February

Entry deadline

18 March

Entry amendment deadline

5 May

Sample submission deadline

Is there an entry fee?

Yes - £4.88 per unit

Cash-in entries are free up to the Entry Amendment deadline.

Any entries/amendments made after the deadline will be charged late fees:

How should centres enter?

Unit Entry

Entries for individual units must be made by submitting the relevant unit and option code:

Entry 1

E1

Entry 2

E2

Entry 3

E3

Level 1

L1

i.e. 6351(unit code)/ E2(option code) Communicating Experiences

Qualification Entry

Entry for aggregation 'cash-in' for the qualification must be made by submitting the relevant qualification and option code. Option codes indicate the size of the qualification:

Award

A

Certificate

C

Diploma

D

and the Level:

Entry 1

1

Entry 2

2

Entry 3

3

Level 1

4

i.e. cash-in code for Entry 2 Award in Additional English is 6007/A2

What is a cash-in?

When candidates want to obtain an overall subject award for any unitised subject, a separate 'cash in' entry is required. The cash-in code required should be entered alongside the individual unit entries. If a candidate has completed all the required units for a subject award but does not submit a cash-in entry, he/she may either:

Enter for the subject award after the publication of results - as a late entry, therefore, a late entry fee is payable in these circumstances.

or

Enter for the subject award at a subsequent series, provided the specification is still available.

Failing to submit a cash-in entry results in no qualification certificate being printed for that candidate.

Do all units have to be entered at the same level?

No - learners may complete units at different levels. Candidates will need over 51% of their credits at the level for which they cash-in for a qualification.

i.e. A candidate has completed 8 credits altogether (the size of the qualification would be an Award): they completed 5 credits at Entry 2 and 3 credits at Entry 3. The majority of credits achieved come from Entry 2 units therefore the cash-in would be for an Award at Entry 2.

If a candidate is entered at Entry 3 and does not achieve this will it automatically default to Entry 2 like ELC?

No - candidates should only be entered once they have completed units and these have been assessed and passed; therefore, centres should know what level the candidate is working at in each unit before entering.

Can a centre enter one unit at two different levels in the same series?

No - WJEC systems will not let you enter a candidate for two levels for the same unit in same series.

How do centres 'bank' units?

Once candidates have been entered for a unit (providing moderation agrees) these will automatically be stored within WJEC systems against candidates' UCI/ULN numbers.

Can units be re-used?

Units achieved and cashed-in may be used for re-aggregation for a larger qualification only. Units may be re-used in another qualification (where appropriate).

i.e. Having achieved 8 credits in Independent Living and subsequently completed sufficient further units, a candidate may include the credits from the Award for aggregation towards a Certificate.

Can a two year course still be followed like the old Entry Level Certificate?

Yes - centres may choose what approach they take when deciding if candidates are ready to enter.

Linear approach

Work for all units is submitted in May at the end of Year two.

Credit gained yearly

Work is submitted for 3 units in May in Year one, and 2 more units in May at the end of Year two.

Credit gained throughout

Work is submitted for completed units in January and May of Year one and Year two.

How are units assessed?

Work will be assessed by an evidence based model; candidates will be expected to demonstrate achievement of the specified assessment objectives. This can be done in a variety of ways which suit the particular centre. The unit specification will suggest some appropriate assessments.

These may include assessments based around:

photocopies from pupils' book

evidence of class work tasks

evidence of homework tasks

practical activities

investigations

photographs

witness statements (to support other evidence)

card sort activities

aural tests

written tests

These will not be 'marked' by numbers or levels. They will be used as evidence to demonstrate that all the criteria for the unit have been met.

How are units/qualifications graded?

Students will achieve either a Pass or Q (not achieved).

How will centres know where to send samples of work for moderation?

Centres will receive moderator details from WJEC after the amendment deadline in order to get samples sent by the submission deadline.

Will candidates' work automatically be sent back to the centre after moderation?

Yes, work will be sent back after moderation in order for candidates to refer to passed units from previous moderation.

Will centres receive a moderator's report?

Yes moderator reports will be sent to centres on the day of results.

What Certificates will candidates receive?

Candidates will receive both Credit Certificates (listing every unit they have passed and been entered for) and Qualification Certificates (providing the qualification cash-in code has been entered).

The advantage of this being that candidates will be rewarded regardless, i.e. A candidate who may not achieve enough credits to gain a full qualification will still receive a certificate for the units(s) they have achieved.

Are there any training courses?

Continuous Professional Development (CPD) sessions are available here: